Duane Hicks
Town council has turned down requests for financial aid from the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau.
Executive director Matt Soprovich had asked council last Monday for one-time financial assistance in the amount of $20,000 to help fix the roof of the old CN station.
He also requested $6,000 to assist in covering programming costs and another $3,000 to construct and erect a walkway so the gas furnace on the building’s roof could be accessed and inspected (this is a requirement before the Volunteer Bureau can switch from electric heat to gas heat, which will lower its monthly heating costs).
But at yesterday afternoon’s budget meeting, council agreed that while the Volunteer Bureau is in a rough spot, taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill.
Fort Frances CAO Doug Brown told council that when the mill was up and running, several unions used to rent office space there, generating regular income for the Volunteer Bureau.
But with no steady stream of revenue, and limited eligibility for grants, Brown doesn’t see the situation getting better anytime soon.
“Everyone knows what they’re doing is legit–it’s just that it’s not financially sound,” he remarked.
“So is it our place as a community to come and take taxpayers’ money to bail something out that doesn’t have good footing?” Brown mused.
“That’s a decision you have to make.”
“If we gave $29,000 today, we’re telling them we’re their new partner,” noted Coun. Doug Kitowski.
“It ain’t going to get better, it’s going to get worse . . .,” he warned.
“We’ve got to fix our own buildings first.”
Coun. June Caul said she feels badly that a federal and provincial heritage building could not get more help from senior government, but it’s not the town’s role to help fix it.
“The Volunteer Bureau is a great organization,” she stressed. “I’ve helped with lots of things that they’ve done.
“It think they’re wonderful.
“But it’s only a building,” Coun. Caul added. “Can they not find someplace else and just move on from that building to another space that they could operate out of?
“That’s my suggestion.”
“I think $29,000 is just the beginning,” echoed Coun. Wendy Brunetta. “It’s just the bare minimum to get a roof on the building.
“I think that building has definitely been neglected over the years–and not on purpose [but] because there hasn’t been the money to take care of it.
“And it’s very sad to see a nice heritage building deteriorate like that,” she added.
“But I really don’t see where we can put taxpayer money into it.”
The Volunteer Bureau has raised some funds for the roof project, This has included $2,000 through garage sales, craft expos, and similar events, a $1,000 grant from Walmart, and $20,000 in capital assistance funding from the Ontario Heritage Trust.
They’ve also applied for some federal funding, and also are staging a “Mardi Gras” fundraiser at the Copper River Inn this Saturday (Feb. 25) to raise money locally.
Council also spent some time at yesterday’s budget meeting discussing a financial request from the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.
They voted in favour of donating $500 to the event on the condition that this be the last year the town does so.
“This has happened time and time again–with the bass tournament, you name it,” said Coun. Paul Ryan.
“We help them out until they can stand on their own two feet,” he added.
“I would go with the $500 with the notice to them that that’s the end.”
